Susan Kissel

Kissel held the position of teacher of English and Latin at public schools in Cincinnati, from 1964 till 1967. That same year she was appointed instructor at the University of Cincinnati in 1967, staying at that post for 2 years. Kissel worked as an adjunct instructor there from 1975 till 1978, also serving as a lecturer in English for 5 years from 1977. Simultaneously Kissel served at the Northern Kentucky University as an adjunct instructor, from 1975 till 1978, she worked as an assistant professor at that educational institution from 1978 till 1983, as well as an associate professor for 8 years from 1984, she also served as a professor of English from 1993. Kissel was a director of women’s studies at the Northern Kentucky University as well, for 4 years from 1981. She was appointed chairperson at the Student Media Board in 1982, staying at that post for 6 years, she held the same position at the Executive Committee on Women’s Concerns in 1983.
Kissel is a contributor of articles and reviews to academic journals, including the Ohioana Quarterly, the Midwest Quarterly, the Journal of the History of Sexuality and the Children's Literature in Education.

book

Nineteenth century writers and reformers Frances Trollope and Frances Wright have always been viewed as ideological opposites. In Common Cause: The "Conservative" Frances Trollope and the "Radical" Frances Wright looks at their political commonalities rather than their differences. It traces the way in which these two women have been stereotyped and denigrated for over 100 years. It considers the many contributions of both women to the most significant political movements of their times: anti-slavery; women's rights; and industrial reform. Nineteenth century writers and reformers Frances Trollope and Frances Wright have always been viewed as ideological opposites. In Common Cause: The "Conservative" Frances Trollope and the "Radical" Frances Wright looks at their political commonalities rather than their differences. It traces the way in which these two women have been stereotyped and denigrated for over 100 years. It considers the many contributions of both women to the most significant political movements of their times: anti-slavery; women's rights; and industrial reform.

Focusing on the works of Grau, Tyler, and Godwin, Susan S. Kissel shows how these writers portray their white southern women protagonists as “moving on,” with their heroines not only renouncing southern patriarchal tradition but actually establishing independent lives and caring communities. These authors are beginning to close the gap that has existed between themselves and black Southern women writers, whose protagonists have long shown that the strength and independence of female maturity must be synonymous with complete character development. Focusing on the works of Grau, Tyler, and Godwin, Susan S. Kissel shows how these writers portray their white southern women protagonists as “moving on,” with their heroines not only renouncing southern patriarchal tradition but actually establishing independent lives and caring communities. These authors are beginning to close the gap that has existed between themselves and black Southern women writers, whose protagonists have long shown that the strength and independence of female maturity must be synonymous with complete character development.

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Susan Steves Kissel is a former American educator. She worked at such educational institutions as University of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky University.

Background

Susan Steves Kissel was born on April 17, 1943, in Chicago, Illinois, United States. She is the daughter of Mervin Franklin Steves, a physician, and Viola P. Steves, a nurse.

Education

Kissel was educated at the University of Cincinnati, receiving there her Bachelor of Arts degree in English, Bachelor of Science degree in Education, Master of Arts degree and Doctor of Philosophy degree, in 1964, 1965, 1967 and 1975 respectively.

Career

Kissel held the position of teacher of English and Latin at public schools in Cincinnati, from 1964 till 1967. That same year she was appointed instructor at the University of Cincinnati in 1967, staying at that post for 2 years. Kissel worked as an adjunct instructor there from 1975 till 1978, also serving as a lecturer in English for 5 years from 1977. Simultaneously Kissel served at the Northern Kentucky University as an adjunct instructor, from 1975 till 1978, she worked as an assistant professor at that educational institution from 1978 till 1983, as well as an associate professor for 8 years from 1984, she also served as a professor of English from 1993. Kissel was a director of women’s studies at the Northern Kentucky University as well, for 4 years from 1981. She was appointed chairperson at the Student Media Board in 1982, staying at that post for 6 years, she held the same position at the Executive Committee on Women’s Concerns in 1983.

Kissel is a contributor of articles and reviews to academic journals, including the Ohioana Quarterly, the Midwest Quarterly, the Journal of the History of Sexuality and the Children's Literature in Education.

Views

Quotations:
"My writing is an extension of my teaching. In courses such as regional writers, southern women writers, and the contemporary American novel, I try to help my American students better understand their own culture and its literary works. That I have lived and worked in southern Ohio and northern Kentucky for most of my life—and that most of my students have, as well-influences my choice of subject matter in both my teaching and my writing."

"In my three books, as well as my articles, conference presentations, and community talks, I have tried to interest other audiences, beyond the students in my classes, in the subjects I care about. It is my objective in writing, as in teaching, to clarify and stimulate curiosity rather than bewilder and confuse through the Use of jargon-ridden prose so common in academe."

Membership

Kissel is a member of the National Women’s Studies Association, the Popular Culture Association of the South, the American Culture Association of the South, the South Atlantic Modern Language Association, the South Central Modern Language Association, the Kentucky Philological Association, the Phi Beta Kappa, the Sigma Tau Delta and the Alpha Lambda Delta.

She was a regional coordinator.

North Central Women’s Studies Association
,
United States

1982 - 1984

Interests

Other Interests

travel, reading, walking

Connections

Susan married Larry Ernst Kissel on June 26, 1965. That marriage produced 2 children - Gregory and Andrew Scott. Unfortunately, they divorced in 1984. Susan married Michael C. C. Adams on July 11, 1985.